A SILK AND METAL-THREAD TEXTILE PANEL (KEMHA) DEPICTING CHRIST PANTOCRATOR

OTTOMAN ISTANBUL, 17TH CENTURY

Details

A SILK AND METAL-THREAD TEXTILE PANEL (KEMHA) DEPICTING CHRIST PANTOCRATOR
OTTOMAN ISTANBUL, 17TH CENTURY
The crimson silk ground woven with green, yellow, white, brown and silver thread with a repeated motif of Christ enthroned holding the gospels, his hand raised in blessing, he sits on a throne surrounded by the four winged creatures which symbolise the Evangelists, the motif set alternated with double-cross-shaped columns, composite
50¼ x 25¾in. (127.6 x 65.6cm.)

Brought to you by

Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse

abutler-wheelhouse@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2196

Lot Essay

In the late 16th Century looms producing such textiles with Christian motifs were associated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul. A very similar textile is recorded as having been given to the Cathedral of the Dormition by Tsar Ivan IV of Russia in 1583, (Hali Magazine, issue 116, no. 15, p. 125). Our textile is slightly more stylised than the example found in Russia and therefore it has been suggested that it is slightly later in date.

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